Painting Flavors of Fall

F or the past five years, chef Ahu Hettema and her mother, Nili Yildirim, have been painting a culinary canvas unlike any other at Istanbul Hawaii.

When you step into the Southeast Mediterranean Turkish restaurant, you will be transported to another world, where flavors and cultures blend.

On the first page of the menu, you’ll find a short poem by Hettema that ends with, “Together, in life’s kitchen, we create art.” It’s a perfect nod to Istanbul’s new autumn menu that’s a seasonal celebration of familiar proteins paired with local ingredients.

Hettema’s journey is inspired by art and poetry, and it’s easy to imagine each dish is a stroke of color on a shared table canvas.

To start your culinary painting, try the Humming Pines cocktail, which is a cozy mix of Four Roses Bourbon, pump